Pittsburgh
Steelers linebacker Bud Dupree just smiled earlier this month when asked what
would happen if the Hard Knocks cameras decided to spend a month embedded with
the team during training camp.Were too real for TV, Dupree said with a
grin.Dupree meant it as a joke. Two weeks later, nobody is laughing. The
Steelers are winless heading into next Mondayvisit to Tampa Bay and the
distractions they stressed the importance of avoiding in 2018 only seem to be
multiplying.The latest arrived in the aftermath of a loss to Kansas City when
All-Pro wide receiver Antonio Brown opted to skip work on Monday
Olasunkanmi
Adeniyi Jersey, though he did find the time to hop on Twitter and respond to
criticism by a former team employee who believes Brown should be thankful that
he plays alongside quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.No one took Brownsuggestion of
trade me letfind out seriously. Coach Mike Tomlinbigger concern was Brownabsence
from a mandatory day of meetings, a misstep that led to an extended sit-down
between the two on Tuesday.Ill leave the nature of that conversation between us,
Tomlin said Wednesday. There was discipline involved for his missed meeting for
Monday. Some of the other things we talked about extensively, hell speak for
himself in some of those things. Really our focus is preparing to win this game
on Monday night.Tomlin did not outline Brownpunishment. The only player in NFL
history with five consecutive seasons of at least 100 receptions practiced
alongside his teammates on Wednesday and there appears to be no plans to have
him sit when the Steelers play the Buccaneers .Asked if he expects Brown to face
Tampa Bay, center Maurkice Pouncey responded 100 percent and insisted there
would be no blowback against Brown in the locker room for another in an
increasing line of highly visible missteps.People dont know the things he has
going on in his life, hetotally fine, Pouncey said. He talked to the people he
needed to talk to and confirmed why he wasnt here and we move on as a team and
thattotally fine.Pounceyremarks came two weeks after he and the rest of the
offensive line vented about running back LeVeon Belldecision to stay away from
the team rather than sign his one-year franchise tender and two months after
Pouncey opened training camp by saying I know itall fun and games for everybody
at the beginning but man ittime to win.And yet here the Steelers are, tied with
Cleveland for last place in the AFC North while Bell jet skis in Florida and
Brown flouts team rules
Alejandro
Villanueva Jersey. Roethlisberger did his best to downplay any sense of the
off-the-field issues swallowing the team whole.I mean any team, any sport is
going to have some kind of distractions throughout the year, Roethlisberger
said. I think thatwhat makes you professional. How can you respond and recover
from it.The best chance Pittsburgh has at crawling out of its self-created funk
must come with Brown in the fold. Cameras caught him shouting at offensive
coordinator Randy Fichtner in the second half, hardly the first time Brown has
let his anger bubble to the surface when things arent going well.I think that
hethe best in the world and when youre the best in the world you want to
participate
https://www.steelersedgeshop.com/Steelers_Brandon_Johnson_Jersey-16,
you want to win football games, Roethlisberger said. Were all a little
frustrated because were not winning right now.Itnot as if Brown has been frozen
out of the offense
T.J. Watt
Jersey. Hebeen targeted a league-high 33 times and his 18 receptions are
tied for the team lead with JuJu Smith-Schuster. Brown, however, is averaging
just 8.9 yards per catch, a byproduct of defenses determined to take away his
breakaway ability.AB is a very passionate football player, Roethlisberger said.
We know that. The fans know that. Thatwhat makes him special is his passion for
this game and the passion to be great. Were not going to want to take that away
from him.If anything, at least Roethlisberger and company have become accustomed
to talking about the latest off-the-field dustup. They won 13 games in a 2017
that often felt chaotic and why they shrugged when asked if therea cumulative
toll of spending so much time answering questions that have little to do with
their play.It can if you let it control you, cornerback Artie Burns said. I
think we do a good job of trying to keep the camaraderie together as a team and
just focus on week to week. You never know what may come up on the headlines or
whatever
https://www.steelersedgeshop.com/Steelers_Josiah_Coatney_Jersey-223,
so youve got to prepare for it.The Steelers are certainly getting plenty of
practice.
The
Indianapolis Colts have decided not to exercise their fifth-year option on
starting safety Malik Hooker, which could make him an unrestricted free agent
after next season.Team officials faced a Monday afternoon deadline to extend the
deal but opted against it.Hooker was Indys first-round draft pick in 2017, No.
15 overall, and showed play-making ability when he was on the field. The
24-year-old Ohio State alum started fast, earning a starting job as a rookie and
picking off three passes in his first seven games. Then the injuries mounted. He
missed the final nine games of 2017 with a knee injury and has wound up missing
14 games over his first three seasons
Darius
Jackson Jersey.Last season might have been his best in the NFL. Hooker had
51 tackles and picked off two passes and recovered one fumble in 13 games.After
the season, general manager Chris Ballard called it a solid season for
Hooker.But if the Colts had exercised the option, Hookers fifth-year salary
would have been guaranteed if he had gotten hurt again
Malik
Henry Jersey.Last year, I really felt like Malik had a really good year. You
could really feel his presence, coach Frank Reich said Monday on a Zoom call
before the decision became official. Physically, I felt Malik presence on the
field. Malik is not the most outgoing, bubbly personality he got a lot of juice
and intensity in him and I think you really saw that come out last year when he
was healthy.
